You’ve just booked your first padel session at the local club, you walk onto the court, and immediately notice it looks nothing like a tennis court. Glass walls, wire mesh fencing, and a playing area that feels surprisingly compact. Then someone mentions the “service box” and points at a line you hadn’t even registered. If you’ve ever stood on a padel court wondering which lines matter and why everything seems smaller than you expected, this guide will clear it all up.
Padel courts follow strict dimensions set by the International Padel Federation (FIP), and understanding the layout isn’t just trivia — it affects where you serve, where you position yourself, and how you use the walls that make this sport so unique. Whether you’re a new player trying to make sense of the markings or someone researching court construction in the UK, here’s everything you need to know about padel court dimensions and lines explained in plain English.
Overall Court Dimensions
A standard doubles padel court measures 20 metres long by 10 metres wide. That’s it — 200 square metres of playing area, roughly a third the size of a tennis court. Three padel courts can fit inside the footprint of a single tennis court, which is exactly why so many UK tennis clubs are converting spare courts to padel. It’s a more efficient use of space, and clubs can accommodate more players per hour.
The court is divided in half by the net, giving each side a playing area of 10 metres deep by 10 metres wide. Compared to tennis, where each side stretches back nearly 12 metres to the baseline, padel feels tighter immediately. That compactness is deliberate — the game is designed around volleys, angles, and wall play rather than baseline power hitting.
For singles padel (which is rare but does exist), the court narrows to 6 metres wide while keeping the same 20-metre length. You’ll almost never encounter a dedicated singles court in the UK, though. The sport is built for doubles, and virtually every court you’ll find at places like David Lloyd, Game4Padel, or your local leisure centre will be the standard 10 by 20 layout.
The Net: Height and Position
The net sits at the exact centre of the court, dividing it into two equal halves. Unlike tennis, where the net height varies slightly between the centre and posts, padel has its own specific measurements.
- Centre height: 88 cm (0.88 metres)
- Post height: 92 cm (0.92 metres) at each side
That’s noticeably lower than a tennis net, which stands at 91.4 cm in the centre. The difference is only a few centimetres, but it changes the dynamic — low, dipping volleys are easier to execute in padel, and the slightly lower barrier encourages net play.
The net posts sit just outside the court width, and the net must extend the full 10 metres across with a slight sag in the middle. There’s also a metal strip along the top of the net (similar to tennis) that the ball occasionally catches, producing those awkward net-cord winners that nobody can really complain about.
Court Lines: What Each One Means
Padel courts have fewer lines than tennis courts, which keeps things simpler. But each line has a specific purpose, and getting them confused will cost you points — especially on serve.
The Centre Service Line
Running down the middle of each half, perpendicular to the net, the centre service line splits the court into two equal service boxes. It extends from the net back to the service line (not to the back wall). This line is 5 cm wide, like all court markings in padel.
The centre service line is critical for serving. Your serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box, so this line determines whether you’re serving into the right or left box from your opponent’s perspective.
The Service Lines
The service lines run parallel to the net, positioned 6.95 metres from the net on each side. This creates the back boundary of the service boxes. When you serve, the ball must bounce within the service box — meaning between the net, the centre service line, the side wall, and the service line.
Here’s a detail that catches new players out: 6.95 metres from the net means the service line sits 3.05 metres from the back wall. That leaves a decent strip of court behind the service line where the receiving team typically positions themselves. You’ll often see experienced players standing well behind the service line to return serve, giving themselves time to read the ball off the glass.
The Service Box
Each half of the court contains two service boxes, created by the intersection of the centre service line and the service lines. Each box measures approximately 5 metres wide by 6.95 metres deep (from the net to the service line). The ball must bounce inside the correct service box on a serve — landing on the line counts as in.
One thing worth knowing: after the serve bounces in the box, if it then hits the side wall, it’s still in play. But if the serve bounces in the box and then hits the wire mesh fencing (rather than the glass), it’s a fault. This catches out a lot of beginners who think any wall contact is fine.
The Serve Position Line
At the back of each side, there’s a small line in the centre of the court indicating where the server must stand. The server must be behind the service line (on their side) and between the centre line and the side wall. Both feet must be behind the service line when striking the ball, and at least one foot must be on the ground. The serve itself is underarm — you drop the ball and hit it at or below waist height.
The Walls and Enclosure
This is where padel gets interesting, and where the dimensions really matter for gameplay. The court is fully enclosed, but the enclosure isn’t uniform — different sections use different materials at different heights.
Back Walls
The back walls on each end are 4 metres high and made entirely of glass (or sometimes solid material like concrete in older courts, though glass is now the standard). The ball can be played off these walls, which is fundamental to the sport. When a ball bounces on the ground and then hits the back glass, you can still return it — creating the spectacular “off the back wall” shots that make padel so distinctive.
The back wall glass typically comes in two sections: a lower panel and an upper panel, with the join at around 3 metres. Some newer courts use single-piece glass panels for a cleaner look and better ball response.
Side Walls
The side walls have a more complex structure:
- First 4 metres from each back wall: solid wall (glass or concrete), 3 metres high
- Remaining middle section: metallic mesh fencing, up to 4 metres high in total
So if you’re standing at the back of the court looking towards the net, you’ll see 4 metres of glass wall on your left and right closest to you, then the material transitions to wire mesh as it approaches the net area. The total height along the sides is 4 metres at the back, stepping down to 3 metres in the mesh section on some court designs.
This mixed construction isn’t just aesthetic — it changes how the ball reacts. Glass gives a predictable, fast rebound. Wire mesh absorbs energy and essentially kills the ball’s momentum. Knowing which section you’re near affects your shot selection massively.
The Mesh Fencing
The wire mesh sections allow spectators to watch the game and let air circulate (important for outdoor courts). The mesh openings must be small enough that the ball cannot pass through — typically a diamond or square pattern with openings no larger than 5 cm by 5 cm.
Some courts have a small gap between the top of the back wall and the mesh above it. Balls that fly over the back glass and land in or beyond this area are out of play.
How Padel Court Dimensions Compare to Tennis
If you’re coming from a tennis background, the size difference is striking. Here’s how they stack up:
- Padel court: 20m × 10m (200 sq m)
- Tennis court: 23.77m × 10.97m (260.87 sq m) — and that’s just the playing lines, not including the run-off area
- Padel net height (centre): 88 cm
- Tennis net height (centre): 91.4 cm
- Padel service box depth: 6.95m from net
- Tennis service box depth: 6.40m from net
The padel service box is actually deeper than in tennis, which surprises people. But the overall court is shorter, and you’re hitting an underarm serve rather than launching a 200 km/h flat serve, so the deeper box makes sense — it gives the ball enough room to bounce within a realistic landing zone.
If you’re interested in the broader differences between the two sports, we’ve got a full breakdown in our guide to padel vs tennis and what makes them different.
Court Surface: What Goes Underfoot
FIP regulations allow three types of court surface: artificial grass, concrete, or carpet. In the UK, almost every court you’ll encounter uses artificial turf with sand infill. The sand provides grip and slows the ball slightly after the bounce, which suits the tactical nature of the game.
The surface must be a uniform colour that provides good contrast with the ball. Most UK courts use blue artificial turf, though you’ll occasionally see green. The surface itself doesn’t have specific dimension requirements beyond covering the entire playing area evenly, but it needs to meet FIP standards for ball bounce consistency.
If you’re playing at a club that’s recently resurfaced, the turf will feel noticeably faster than a worn-in court. Sand levels make a difference too — freshly sanded courts can feel slippery until the surface beds in. Wearing proper padel shoes with a herringbone sole pattern helps enormously. If you’re still figuring out your gear, our guide on how to choose the right court equipment covers what to look for.
Minimum Surrounding Space
Here’s something people planning to build a padel court often overlook: the court itself is 20 by 10 metres, but you need additional space around it. FIP guidelines recommend a minimum clear height of 6 metres above the entire court to allow for lobs. Indoor facilities need to account for this ceiling clearance, which is why you’ll sometimes see padel courts in converted warehouses or sports halls rather than standard leisure centres with lower ceilings.
Behind each back wall, there should be at least 0.5 to 1 metre of space for doors (players need to enter and exit, and in advanced play, you can actually run out through the door to retrieve a ball — yes, really). The court doors are typically positioned at the back or on the side near the net, and they must sit flush with the wall surface so the ball rebounds consistently.
Lighting Requirements
For competitive play, courts need adequate lighting — typically a minimum of 400 lux at ground level for club play, and up to 600 lux for televised events. Most UK indoor courts use LED floodlights mounted above the mesh, angled to minimise glare on the glass walls.
Outdoor courts usually have four to eight floodlight poles positioned outside the enclosure. The lights need to be high enough (at least 6 metres) to avoid interfering with lobs, and they shouldn’t create shadows on the playing surface. If you’ve played padel under poor lighting, you’ll know how much difference it makes — tracking a yellow ball against a blue court is easy in good light and absolute chaos in bad light.
UK Court Standards and the LTA
In the UK, padel falls under the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which adopted the sport officially and works with the FIP on court standards. If you’re playing at an LTA-registered venue, the court will meet FIP dimension requirements. The LTA has been investing heavily in padel infrastructure, with a target of having padel courts accessible to most of the UK population by the end of the decade.
Most new court installations in the UK come from specialist companies like Padelcreations or Italian manufacturer Mondo, and they’re built to FIP specs from the ground up. If you’re booking a session at Game4Padel, Padel2gether, or a David Lloyd club, you can be confident the dimensions will be regulation.
Why Court Dimensions Matter for Your Game
Understanding the measurements isn’t just for architects and court builders. Knowing the dimensions genuinely improves how you play:
- Serve placement: The service box is roughly 5m × 7m. That’s a generous target, but aiming for the corners — particularly the T (where the centre line meets the service line) or wide near the glass — puts immediate pressure on the returner.
- Wall positioning: The back glass is 3.05 metres behind the service line. When you’re defending deep, knowing this distance helps you judge whether to take a ball before or after it hits the glass.
- Net approaches: At only 88 cm, the net invites you forward. The court is compact enough that two strides from the service line puts you in prime volleying position.
- Lob height: With walls at 4 metres and mesh reaching higher, lobs need to clear the net pair but ideally land deep enough to hit the back glass awkwardly. Too high and the ball sails out over the enclosure.
If you’re still choosing your first racket, the court dimensions actually influence which shape works best. On a compact court where quick reactions matter, a round or teardrop shape gives better control. Our guide to padel racket shapes breaks this down in detail.
Common Questions About Padel Court Dimensions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the official dimensions of a padel court? A standard doubles padel court measures 20 metres long by 10 metres wide, as set by the International Padel Federation (FIP). The court is divided in half by a net, giving each side 10 metres of depth.
How high is the net in padel? The padel net is 88 cm high at the centre and 92 cm at the posts. This is slightly lower than a tennis net, which stands at 91.4 cm in the centre.
How high are the walls on a padel court? The back walls are 4 metres high and made of glass. The side walls are 3 metres high with a combination of glass panels (nearest the back wall) and metallic mesh fencing, reaching up to 4 metres total height.
What is the service line distance in padel? The service line is positioned 6.95 metres from the net on each side of the court. This creates service boxes that are approximately 5 metres wide by 6.95 metres deep.
Can you play singles on a padel court? Officially, singles padel uses a narrower court of 6 metres wide by 20 metres long. However, dedicated singles courts are extremely rare in the UK — most players use standard doubles courts and simply play with two people.